Gatherings of four households 'simply not safe', warns CMO

A record 20,554 new cases of Covid-19 were announced yesterday — a fourth new daily record this week

The Irish testing system is running at maximum capacity

Pressure is mounting on the Government to intervene on the cost of antigen testing after it last night announced substantial changes to the testing requirements for suspected cases of Covid-19.

As a record 20,554 new cases were announced — the fourth new daily record this week, Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, expressed fears about the rapid spread of the virus, with Omicron now accounting for over 90% of cases.

As testing centres struggle to cope with the current demand, Dr Holohan said the true number of cases is likely to be as high as 30,000.

The numbers of Covid patients in hospitals increased again, hitting 619, with 88 in intensive care yesterday. 

Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the epidemiological modelling group, said that although the vast majority of infections are not progressing to severe disease caution is still needed.

He said that if testing was able to fully keep pace with the rising number of infections then the daily case count would be approximately 40% higher.

Figures have already shown the number of Covid patients in hospitals are increasing at a concerning rate and Prof Nolan warned that while ICU numbers are stable for now, it will be at least another week before the current wave of infections will translate into severe outcomes in the population.

Dr Holohan said the current situation is not the same as last year because of vaccinations.

"If we had these case numbers, and we didn't have vaccination, which was the situation we were in this time last year, we would have very, very significant numbers of hospitalisations, we would have very, very significant numbers potentially of deaths, many more than we saw last year."

He warned people not to hold parties or gatherings to celebrate the new year.

Meeting up in large numbers of four households at this point in time, given the levels of infection that we have, is simply not safe.

"I think it's important for people to hear that message and to take those measures themselves as to what they can do."

Dr Holohan said he has been in regular contact with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and both men are in agreement on the latest public advice.

"I've had significant discussion with the Minister as you can imagine over the course of the last number of days. So this is the view that Stephen Donnelly, I can tell you, also has and so there's no difference in terms of anybody's assessment at official level as to what people now need to do."

He added: "So I'm saying clearly to people, that if you want to reduce your risk, and that we all collectively need to work together to do that, given the levels of infection, we need to follow all of the public health measures.

"So cutting your social contacts as much as possible, people who've got any kind of cold-like symptoms in particular need to self isolate."

Dr Tony Holohan said that he and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly are in agreement when it comes to the current public health advice. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Responding to the surge and pressures on testing systems, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced a raft of changes, including a focus on antigen testing.

For testing:

• Symptomatic people aged four to 39 should self-isolate and do regular antigen tests instead of PCR. They should go for a PCR if they get a positive antigen test result. 
• People with repeated ‘not detected’ antigen results should self-isolate until 48 hours after symptoms go.
• Symptomatic health staff should get a PCR test.
• People with an underlying condition should contact their GP.
• Symptomatic people under three or over 40 should get a PCR.

Mr Donnelly said antigen tests will be provided to people’s homes when required, from January 3.

Self-isolation after a positive PCR result is reduced from 10 to seven days in limited circumstances: 

• Over-13s who are at least seven days post-booster, or who have completed initial vaccinations and had Covid-19 within the previous three months, should self-isolate for a minimum of seven days from the start of symptoms (or first positive test if asymptomatic).
• After isolation, they should follow public health guidance, including doing antigen tests, before meeting people.

These changes follow a warning from Dr Holohan that rising hospital Covid levels “are not sustainable.” 

He said: “Over 90% of people in hospital and intensive care with Covid-19 are there for the management of Covid-19; less than 5% of those in hospital or intensive care have ‘incidental’ [asymptomatic, non-infectious] disease."

The changes were immediately met with frustration by opposition parties, who noted that just a month ago, the Government declined to subsidise the cost of antigen tests, which still vary widely in price.

"PCR tests [are] nearly impossible to get, record daily cases and no clarity on how our country will operate next week,” Labour leader Alan Kelly tweeted.

"Silence from Taoiseach and Minister for Health when public need reassurance and to at least see some sort of plan being put in place.” 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane said: “One third of positive cases through a PCR followed a positive antigen test. That is all the more reason to see greater use of antigen testing, and for it to be made freely available.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Omicron is a "serious threat".

"I appreciate everyone's hard work to keep people safe over this period. Our best protection is the booster," Mr Martin said in a tweet, adding 2.08m doses have now been given, with 417,000 in the last week.

Plans for schools to reopen next week remain on track

Looking ahead to the reopening of schools next week, Dr Holohan said that while plans to return to the classroom are on track, the situation is under constant review.

"We are doing everything we can... while we deal with the impact of any wave of the disease including this one, to protect the most important public services that we have and those are: health care, education, the care of vulnerable people and childcare services," he told RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland.

Although the age specific incidence is rising across all age groups, the CMO said it has been falling since early December among most of the school age groups.